Ross Ventrone 'not frustrated at all' about latest cut

FOXBORO (AP) - It's Wednesday, so Ross Ventrone is on the waiverwire again.

The Patriots released the safety for the seventh time this year,letting him go to make room for offensive lineman Donald Thomas twodays after Thomas was released so Ventrone could be activated forMonday night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

But don't worry about Ventrone. If history is any guide, he'llbe back with New England soon: He's been on the transaction wire atotal of 17 times this calendar year already.

That's not a taxi squad. That's more like the Green Linetrolley, complete with regularly scheduled stops.

"He's not frustrated at all," Ventrone's agent, Gregory Diulus,said Wednesday as he waited to see if Ventrone would clear waivers."The team likes him. They like his productivity on game day. Heplayed really well this past week in particular. They are alsohaving issues with juggling their roster and having as manyproductive players as possible."

A 5-foot-8, 190-pound defensive back and special teamer who wasundrafted out of Villanova, Ventrone has been active for six games,with one special teams tackle. He has filled in on defense in caseof injury.

"Look, in the end you play in a game or you don't - that's whatit comes down to," coach Bill Belichick said last week. "You getprepared to play every week and if the coaches give you theopportunity to play, you play. If the coaches don't, then as aplayer you take what you learned that week and get ready for nextweek. He's done a great job with that. Outstanding. He's beenready."

Belichick also praised Ventrone last week for his ability todeal with an unusual situation.

"We've had other guys along with him that have been on and off... the roster, but probably none more than him," Belichick said."He might lead the league in transactions. He has to be right upthere. But he's handled it great."

Diulus said the team is not allowed to make any promises whenVentrone is released, and any other team is able to claim him.Ventrone doesn't take it personally, and he sees it as one way tohelp out the team.

Ventrone, who was cut last Tuesday and added to the practicesquad Thursday, said he just wants to play. He was promoted fromthe practice squad Monday and played in that night's game.

"He loves the Patriots," Diulus said. "He loves the situationthere. In his opinion, he is a member of that team. He believes ineverything that's going on there."

Ventrone originally was signed by New England after the 2010draft; he was cut and re-signed once during training camp and againduring the season.

The team brought him back in January, and since then he hasbeen: cut, signed, cut, added to the practice squad, activated fromthe practice squad, cut, added to the practice squad, activatedfrom the practice squad, cut, signed, cut, added to the practicesquad, activated from the practice squad, cut, added to thepractice squad, activated from the practice squad and cut again."To be bounced around like that, it is pretty unique," Ventronesaid in the locker room Friday. "I'm going to prepare like I'mgoing to play. I don't look at it any differently than if I washere the whole time. I don't get discouraged. ... I just hope theybring me back, and they have so far."